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Italy's 150th Birthday Tribute

Italy's 150th Birthday Tribute! Italy exists exactly 150 years! Here are some of the Italian achievements of the last 150 years that we now take for granted.

Italians told us the virtue of telling the truth:

If you must lie, either your nose will grow: Carlo Collodi creates Pinocchio in 1883.

Or...your hand will be bitten off: La Bocca della Verita (The Mouth of Truth) featured in Roman Holiday 1953.

And in return they gave us a wonderful invention:

Invention of Radio Telegraph System by Guglielmo Marconi 1888.

They also gave us some very talented sportsmen:

Fausto Coppi thought us the art of cycling, 1940s - 1950s.

Enzo Scifo thought us nice hair and soccer can be combined.

And they gave us some amazing music videos:

Sandra In the Heat of the Night 1985.

Sabrina Boys Boys Boys 1987.

They gave us a wide variety of movies; some gems:

Ladri di Biciclette, 1948.

They also gave us some weird ones:

Vampyros Lesbos, 1971.

Italy gave us some amazing designers too:

In fashion, there was Gianni of course, but also Giorgio, Miuccia, Valentino, Emilio, etc.

Gio Ponti thought us he could design just about anything, much much better (1920s-1970s).

Joe Colombo thought us you can combine Function with Style, 1960s early 1970s.

Italy created some of the most amazing cars ever:

Enzo Ferrari thought us how to drive in style 1947.

Enzo Ferrari thought us how to drive in style 1947 (Ferrari 125).

Ferrari at the Italian Grand Prix in 1961.

Ferrari Modulo 1970.

Lamborghini Countach 1971.

Pininfarina designed Abarth 2000 from 1969.

And they gave us some ultra small but never the less super cute alternatives:

Fiat 500 released in 1957.

And who could forget the ever stylish Vespa:

Vespa by Piaggio manufactured from 1946.

Italy gave us some amazing beauties:

Sophia Loren makes us love Italian cinema 1950s - 1970's

Italy gave us some amazing coffee:

Ernesto Illy thought us how to drink coffee 1965.

“Our coffee is twice as expensive as the run-of-the-mill stuff, at least,” Mr. Illy told The New York Times in 2001. “Our goal is perfect beans, zero defects, and we think we get close to that.” “Fine espresso paints the tongue,” he said of his favorite drink, which he made a product of precision.

Italy showed us they make the best cartoons:

La Linea by Osvaldo Cavandoli 1972.

La Linea by Osvaldo Cavandoli

La Linea by Osvaldo Cavandoli

Osvaldo Cavandoli thought us that one line is sufficient to make a cartoon. La Linea ("The Line") is an Italian animated series created by the Italian cartoonist Osvaldo Cavandoli. The series consists of 90 episodes which are about 2–3 minutes long each which were produced originally broadcast in the Italian channel RAI between 1972 - 1991. Over the years the series aired in more than 40 countries around the world.

And then, there was Calimero:

Organizzazione Pagot Studio invents Calimero 1963.

Organizzazione Pagot Studio invents Calimero 1963.

Organizzazione Pagot Studio invents Calimero 1963.

Calimero thought us that a small figure used in advertising can become grow up to become a huge hit. Calimero makes the whole world smile.

And...the Italian food and drinks, of course:

Martini thought us how to have cocktails in style since 1929.

Food wise, there are the classics we all love.

And some good surprises along the way.

And a few surprises which may have looked good at first...but perhaps not so good after all (Italy's Wine Fraud with Methyl Alcohol of 1986 and the Parmalat Fraud of 2002-2005.

Italy gave us the literary genius...and a drama genius:

Umberto Eco publishes Il Nome Della Rosa (The Name of the Rose) in 1980.

Silvio Berlusconi proved he is no Pinocchio (his nose always stays the same) but he may very well be a modern master of Italian Opera (no need for a Roman Amphiteatre to provide for spectacle, Silvio is a one man show).

Italy's 150th Birthday Tribute! Italy marked its 150th birthday on Thursday March 17th with a pomp-filled ceremony and cultural events meant to highlight Italian unity and identity. Italy exists exactly 150 years and there is plenty to celebrate! Here are some of the Italian achievements of the last 150 years that we may have forgotten about. There are plenty of reasons to pay tribute to Italy. Today, we pay tribute to the ones we like the most. Credits: nova68.com